Are your family and friends CA residents? I think the vast majority of students in California apply to the UCs, even if they have their eye on a private school. I can’t imagine that a CA resident would apply to USC without also sending an application to a UC.
I’ve mentioned before that, within my extended family, everyone has attended a UC or CSU. Within my immediate family, we have attended five of the nine UCs. My kids were each allowed to apply to a limited number of private schools, but knew that any school that wasn’t a UC or CSU would have to meet our UC/CSU budget. We are a very UC centric family.
My youngest was accepted to every school they applied to, including USC and T10 privates. We did our research. We did A LOT of research. I spoke to people up and down the admissions teams at the schools. We spoke to current students and their families. We spoke to alumni. Bottom line is that there are things that private schools can offer that the CA state schools can’t. In the end, my student chose USC and had a phenomenal academic experience.
I’m sharing not to convince people to attend one school or the other. I’m sharing because some of the claims, assertions, and stereotypes that are being used in this thread are misleading.
No shade on USC, but the the assertion that UCLA is now second choice to it if price is even doesn’t pass the smell test.
I don’t think that is what was being stated. People are taking exaggerated rivalry chants and trying to justify that they are fact.